Convertible dress and pouch storage garment

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a fully functioning dress which may be stored in an integrated small pouch or pocket and carried independently or placed within a purse or handbag. Additionally, when the dress is removed from its storage position within the pouch and placed in the ready to wear position the storage pouch is not viewable similar to a tag within a garment that is secured within the inside.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Ser. No. 61/608,249 filed Mar. 8, 2012 the entire content is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention generally relates to an easy pack and carry dress and more specifically to a dress that is stored within a small compartment of itself when not worn, and quickly removed from the storage compartment and worn at users discretion, wherein the storage compartment may additionally serve as the tag for the dress.

2. Background Information

As people are more constantly on the go and away from home for extended periods of time, they are often required to make changes on the fly. Although, various outer garments which can be folded into a pouch located on the garment itself are present in the art, these garments appeal mainly to hikers, campers, and other sportsmen who appreciate the convenience of a jacket or other outer garment which can be folded into a compact package and placed into a backpack, clipped to a belt, or carried easily by hand.

Additional garments in the art were created to provide a better variety of convertible outerwear garments including pajamas, nightshirts and sleepers which may fold into a carrying bag which can be worn on ones back, these simpler designs were designed with an emphasis for easily carried and convertible children's clothing. But these designs also required the outer garments to incorporate straps and/or other features to the outerwear to support the additional functions which may not always be desirable as a component of the outerwear but were necessary for converting the garment into a carrier.

There is a void in the art for garments which may be stored in a very small space, easily carried and not comprise additional straps, belts or other accessories which are often not desired in outerwear. For women a dress is a single garment which may serve as a day's primary garment or as an emergency set of clothes should another garment get ripped, soiled or generally become un-wearable. A dress is a single garment that can serve as a change of clothes (complete outerwear change) when necessary or desired.

Unfortunately, a condensed easily stored complete outerwear change set has not previously been described. Thus, a need exists for a easily packed and stored complete outerwear garment which may serve as a change of clothes to be worn in an emergency or due to a quick change of plans wherein a dress is ideal for the occasion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments of the present invention were created to allow women to have a stylish outerwear change of clothes that may be easily carried and stored for a period of time and removed and worn when a situation arises.

The present invention relates to a fully functioning dress which may be stored in a small bag and carried independently or placed within a purse or handbag, and that when removed from its storage position and placed in the ready to wear position the storage pouch is not viewable just as a tag within a garment is secured within the inside. Additional embodiments include a dress that is designed with an appropriate styling to be sufficient for semi-formal attire. Further additional embodiments allow for the dress to be styled such that either side of the dress may serve as the front or back of the dress.

Additional embodiments may feature the storage pouch additionally having a drawstring or elastic pouch closure feature. Further additional embodiments may include a storage pouch that is made of the same material as the dress. While alternative embodiments may include a storage pouch that is made of a different material than the dress, some contemplated storage pouch materials are highly elastic fabrics and/or mesh or mesh-like materials.

Yet further embodiments feature the storage pouch serving as the tag or label for the dress garment. Yet still further embodiments feature specific blends of wrinkle-free or wrinkle-resistant fabrics such that the dress garment can be wearable with no further preparation such as ironing or steaming, without appearing sloppy or ill-prepared.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The principles of the present invention will be apparent with reference to the following drawings, in which like reference numerals denote like components:

FIG. 1 consists of FIGS. 1A-1E which show a front plan view of a contemplated dress garment when in the inside out position but in the wearing mode in FIG. 1A and the steps for making and attaching the pouch shown in FIGS. 1B-1E.

FIG. 2 consists of a front plan view of a contemplated dress garment when in the inside out position but in the wearing mode.

FIG. 3 consists of a front plan view of a contemplated dress garment when in the pouch and in the stored position with the pouch opening facing away from the viewer.

FIG. 4 consists of a front plan view of another embodied dress garment when in the inside out position but in the wearing mode wherein the storage pouch also serves as the tag for the dress garment.

FIG. 5 consists of a front plan view of a contemplated dress garment when in the pouch and in the stored position with the pouch opening facing the viewer.

FIG. 6 consists of another embodied dress garment showing a front plan view of a contemplated dress garment when in the pouch and in the stored position with the pouch opening facing the viewer.

FIG. 7 consists of another embodied dress garment showing the storage pouch made of a different material than the dress itself and having an elastic opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention contemplates a dress garment with a carrying pocket located on the inside side portion when the garment is in the wearing mode. The dress garment has the pouch/pocket fastened into the side seams of the dress garment.

Although the pouch is designed to be placed almost anywhere within the inside of the dress garment, it is preferable for the pouch to be located along a side seam, and most preferable for the pouch to be located on the side seam in an area that corresponds with the general midsection of the wearer. The strategic location of the pouch ensures the best concealment so that the pouch is not easily visible and does not negatively impact the visible aesthetics of the outer surface of the dress when worn by a user.

In some contemplated embodiments when an embodied dress garment is folded into its stored carrying position within the storage pouch, the dress garment is turned inside out from its wearing mode so that the pouch is fully accessible. The pouch is also in the inside out position before the dress is stuffed inside. The dress is folded or stuffed into the pouch and the pouch becomes right side out when the dress is stored inside. But when the dress is in the wearing position the attached pouch is inside out. Additionally, when the pouch serves as the garment tag for the dress or a tag is attached to the pouch the tag writing is on the inside of the pouch and when the dress is in the wearing position, the pouch remains inside out and the tag is thus viewable. Once the dress is folded or stuffed into the pouch a drawstring or other closing mechanism such as elastic bands, hook and loop fasteners (such as Velcro), snaps or magnets can be used to close the pouch with the dress stuffed inside. The dress is then protected within the pouch from dirt or grime because it is stuffed within the pouch. The pouch resides on the inside of the dress (similar to a tag on a shirt) and is therefore, not easily visible when the dress is worn in wearing mode. Thus, any blemishes created on the pouch while storing the dress are not easily viewed by a third party when the dress is in wearing mode.

Another additional embodiment includes the inside pouch is placed discreetly near the waist area of the wearer, and based on its placement and the cut and style of an embodied dress, the dress may be able to be worn with either side serving as the front or back of the dress.

Additionally, the embodiments contemplated include wrinkle free dress materials comprising but not limited to polyester/spandex blends, rayon/spandex blends or all polyester.

Additional embodiments, include versions of sufficient style as to be appropriately worn for semi-formal events.

Additional embodiments relate to the storage pouch, which may be made of the same materials as the dress, or may be of different materials. The size of the pouch will vary based on the size of the dress garment and the elasticity properties of the pouch. Generally the pouch will range in size from about 2 inches by 2 inches up to about 6 inches to about 6 inches. With a smaller size generally preferred, especially when the pouch also serves as the garment tag. The more preferable size is about 2 inches by 2 or 3 inches. The pouch need not be exactly square so any size ranges in inches of 3 by 4, 2 by 3, and 3 by 5 are contemplated in the present invention. Pouches, made of highly elastic materials such as condensed meshes may be preferable because these meshes contain less material and allow the manufacturer to make the pouch smaller, yet still elastic enough to contain the entire dress garment. Additionally, the meshes are very lightweight and are easy to conceal on the inside of the dress garment.

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

EXAMPLES DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

As shown in the drawings of FIGS. 1-7, the invention comprises various embodied dress garments shown as 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 in the subsequent drawings. As illustrated and exemplified in FIG. 2, the dress garment 200 generally comprises the dress portion 210 and pouch portion 220. The dress garment 200 is in wearing mode in FIG. 2 (even though the dress garment 200 is shown inside out to show pouch 220) and stored mode in FIG. 3.

Example 1 Dress to Go

FIGS. 1-3 show an example of embodied dress garments contemplated in the present invention.

FIG. 1 depicts a contemplated dress garment 100 and shows a template of how the dress garment is made comprising the dress portion 110 and the pouch storage portion 120. FIG. 1A shows the patterns for a contemplated dress garment 100 pattern showing both a small/medium scaling and a medium/large scaling. The dress garment 100 is shown in the inside out view so that the pocket or pouch 120 is viewable, as it is not viewable when the dress garment 100 is properly worn on a user. Additionally, dress side seams 115 are shown which are used to sew the dress garment 100 together and serve as the seam for attaching the pouch portion 120.

FIGS. 1B-1E demonstrate the 5 steps for making the pocket/pouch portion. FIG. 1B represents step 1 wherein a drawstring seam 121 is created by folding over a the top 1 inch of material and stitching across at the ½ mark to create the drawstring seam 121, which may be used to hold a drawstring 122 (not shown) which is used to secure the pocket/pouch when the dress garment 100 is in a stored position. FIG. 1C represents step 2 wherein the pocket/pouch portion 120 is folded in half with the top seam out. FIG. 1D represents step three wherein stitches are applied to close the pouch on two of the three open sides, leaving only the top drawstring seam side 121 as the only open portion 124 remaining FIG. 1E represents step 4 wherein the drawstring 122 (not shown) is threaded in the drawstring seam 121. In step 5 (not shown) the folded side of the pocket (non-stitched) is sewn into the waist guideline portion of the dress 110 at the side seam 115 (not shown).

FIGS. 2 and 3 demonstrate a contemplated Dress to Go dress garment 200. FIG. 2 shows the dress garment 200 when in the wearing mode but inside out. The dress portion 210 of the garment 200 is attached to the pocket/pouch portion 220 along the side seam 215 of the dress 210. When being placed into the stored position the dress 210 is folded, rolled or stuffed into the pocket 220 through the open end 224 portion of the pouch/pocket 220 and the open end 224 is closed with a drawstring 222.

FIGS. 3 and 5 show the dress garment 200 when in the stored mode. In FIG. 3 the dress portion 210 is no longer visible because it is completely contained within the pocket/pouch 220 and the drawstring 222 has been drawn taut to close the open end 224 of the pouch 220 and secure the dress portion 210 in its place. FIG. 5 shows the pocket/pouch 220 at an alternative angle from FIG. 3 so that the opening of the pouch and drawstrings 222 are visible.

The dress garment is desirably formed of a soft, pliable material, that also has wrinkle-free or wrinkle resistant properties, such as a polyester/spandex blend, rayon/spandex blend or all polyester or knitted cotton material, a knitted fleeced material or lightweight woven materials. This permits the dress garment to be more easily converted into the wearing mode, from the stored mode with minimal to no garment preparation such as ironing or steaming necessary to achieve a finished or wrinkle free look.

Both the dress portions 110 or 210 and the pouch/pocket portions 120 and 220 of the exemplified embodiments may be made of the same or different fabric materials. It is however preferred that the dress portion 110 or 210 be a low maintenance wrinkle free or resistant material so that the dress can be converted from stored mode to wearable mode with minimal maintenance. It is also preferred that the pouch/pocket portions 120 and 220 be made of a highly stretchable and resilient material so that the pouch can be as small as possible yet still able to store a full dress garment.

Example 2 Tag Along

FIG. 4 shows an example of an embodied version of the dress garment 300 shown in the wearable mode but inside out so that pouch 320 is viewable, and wherein the storage pouch 320 further serves as the tag 325 for the dress 310.

Example 3 Elastic Pouch

FIG. 6 shows an example of another embodied version of a dress garment 400 similar to that shown in FIG. 5, but different in that the embodied dress garment 400 comprises a pocket pouch 420 utilizes a different pocket/pouch closure mechanism comprising of an elastic band 422.

Example 4 Mesh Pouch

FIG. 7 shows an example of another embodied version of the dress garment 500 wherein the attached storage pouch 520 with (not shown) or without a tag portion (as shown) comprises of a highly elastic mesh material attached to the dress portion 510. In this embodiment the storage pouch 520 is made of a different material than the dress portion 510. Additionally, the embodiment is shown as utilizing and elastic band 522 as the storage pouch closing mechanism.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the above example, it will be understood that modifications and variations are encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is limited only by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A convertible dress garment comprising: a dress portion; a storage pouch portion, wherein the dress portion further comprises an inside surface and an outside surface, wherein the inside surface is proximal to a users body and the outside surface is distal to a users body and said outside surface is viewable to a third party when the dress garment is worn by a user, wherein the storage pouch portion is attached to the dress portion on the inside surface of the garment, wherein the pouch portion comprises an inner pouch surface and an outer pouch surface.
 2. The garment of claim 1 wherein said pouch comprises a pouch closing apparatus selected from a drawstring, an elastic band, hook and loop fasteners, snaps or magnets.
 3. The garment of claim 1 wherein said pouch also serves as a product tag for the dress.
 4. The garment of claim 1 wherein the dress portion contains a side seam.
 5. The garment of claim 1 wherein the pouch is attached to the dress portion along a side seam.
 6. The garment of claim 1 wherein the pouch is attached to the dress portion along a side seam, and further wherein the pouch location along the side seam is designed to be located at a general midsection of a wearer.
 7. The garment of claim 1 wherein said pouch comprises of the same material as used for the dress garment.
 8. The garment of claim 1 wherein said pouch comprises of a different material as used for the dress garment.
 9. The garment of claim 1 wherein said pouch comprises an elastic mesh-like material.
 10. The garment of claim 2 wherein said pouch closing apparatus selected is a drawstring.
 11. The garment of claim 2 wherein said pouch closing apparatus selected is a an elastic band.
 12. A convertible dress garment comprising: a dress portion comprising a side seam, an inside surface and an outside surface, wherein the inside surface is proximal to a users body and the outside surface is distal to a users body and said outside surface is viewable to a third party when the dress garment is worn by a user, a storage pouch portion attached to the dress portion at said side seam on the inside surface of the garment, wherein the pouch portion comprises an inner pouch surface and an outer pouch surface and an elastic band pouch closing apparatus; wherein the storage pouch portion additionally serves as a product tag for the dress garment, wherein the storage pouch portion comprises of a mesh material which is different than the material used for the dress portion.
 13. The garment of claim 12 wherein said dress garment comprises a uniform appearance for a front portion of the dress or a back portion of the dress.
 14. The garment of claim 12 wherein said pouch and tag are about 2 inches by 2 inches in size, yet elastic enough to store the entire dress portion within the pouch. 